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Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials in Kinyarwanda
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Kinyarwanda words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Kinyarwanda phrases in this lesson
- YegoYEH-goh
- Yes
- OyaOH-yah
- No
- SawaSAH-wah
- Okay
- Simbyumvaseem-BYOOM-vah
- I don't understand
- Uvuga Icyongereza?oo-VOO-gah ee-choh-ngeh-REH-zah
- Do you speak English?
- Subiramosoo-bee-RAH-moh
- Can you repeat that?
- Gahoro gahorogah-HOH-roh gah-HOH-roh
- Slowly, please
- Iki ni iki?EE-kee nee EE-kee
- What is this?
- Nkeneye...n-keh-NEH-yeh
- I need...
- Wamfasha?wahm-FAH-shah
- Can you help me?
Borrowed from Swahili and used constantly.
Literally "I don't hear it".
English is an official language and common among younger people.
Literally "repeat it".
Literally "gently, gently".
Literally "this is what?".
Literally "could you help me?".